On Monday, January 11, 2015, Pope Francis tried to cover up his promotion of Islam by a condemnation of the Jihadists of the Islamic State. Pope Francis told members of the international Diplomatic Corps in the Vatican on Monday that every true religion promotes peace, and by contrast, religious extremists who kill in God’s name—such as the Islamic Caliphate, are a perversion of real religion. Such a disclosure was just another attempt to play both sides, as this Jesuit Pope is so skilled in doing.

Pope Francis stated, “every authentic practice of religion cannot fail to promote peace.”[1] However, he fails to make mention of his own Roman Catholic Church that carried on one of the most horrendous, torturing, murdering campaigns during the years of the Inquisition. The torture chambers of the Inquisition lasted 605 years and were found throughout the nations controlled by popes of Rome. They had their beginning under Pope Innocent III in 1203 until the Inquisition's final dissolution in Spain and Portugal in 1808. Moreover, just like what we have seen with the Roman Catholic Church during the Inquisition, it is evident in the same way with the terrorists who fulfill the mandates of the Qu’ran.

For the Catholic Church to promote Islam, when those who are faithful to its harsh teachings kill so-called infidels, many who claim to follow Christ, reveals much about the state of the soul of the Pope of the Catholic Church. Thus it appears that this Jesuit pope is not any different from the popes during the 605 years Inquisition. Francis’ dishonesty on Monday, January 11, 2015 was simply a deceitful cover up.

In 1929, Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty, along with Pope Pius XI, officially conceding Vatican Hill to the Pope. The Papacy once again became a sovereign, civil state. The legal agreement between Mussolini and the Vatican was just the beginning. Following this, the Papacy formed alliances in the twentieth century with Roman Catholic dictators such as Adolph Hitler of Germany, Francisco Franco of Spain, Antonio Salazar of Portugal, and Juan Peron of Argentina. But the alliance that proved to be the most brutal and bloodthirsty of all was that between the Papacy and Anton Pavelic in Croatia. Within the Papacy it was agreed that Anton Pavelic[1] was to be head of the new nation-state of Croatia, which was carved out of Yugoslavia during the Second World War.

During Pavelić's four-year reign, he and Roman Catholic Prelate, Archbishop Alois Stepinac, pursued a “convert or die” policy among the 900,000 Greek Othodox Serbs, Jews, and others in Croatia. Two hundred thousand were converted; the 700,000 who chose to die were tortured, burned, buried alive, or shot … after digging their own graves. This appalling persecution carried out by the Ustaše included many of the worst atrocities of history. The mutilations were horrific, the tortures vicious, and the savagery terrible. The Catholic Church did not leave the execution of a religious war to the secular arm. She was there herself, openly ignoring precautions and bolder than she had been for a very long time. Wielding the hatchet or dagger, pulling the trigger, organizing the massacre, the

Many of the Ustaše officers were priests or friars sworn to fight “with dagger or gun,” for the “triumph of Christ and Croatia.” Priests played a prominent role in the closing or takeover of Serbian Orthodox churches, the seizure of church records, and the interrogation of the Serbian

Orthodox clergy. They also supervised concentration camps and organized the torture of many of their victims.

French author Edmond Paris, who was born a Roman Catholic, and has written a very thorough account of this terrible massacre in his book Convert or Die, has said,

“It is difficult for the world to believe that a whole people could be doomed to extermination by a government and religious hierarchy of the twentieth century, just because it happened to belong to another ethnical and racial group and had inherited the Christianity of Byzantium rather than that of Rome.”

The creation of the entirely Roman Catholic, independent State of Croatia during the Second World War was accompanied by a persecution so ferocious that it is difficult to find a parallel in all of history. The Inquisition applied to the Serbian Orthodox by the Croatian Catholics accounted for 700,000 Serbs being tortured and killed in just four years. So, while the Inquisition ended in the nineteenth century, the same procedures and mindset were evident in Croatia in the twentieth century. In fact, the same mindset is still officially maintained by the Papacy in the twenty-first century. The Roman Church to this day maintains the laws that she used as her authority to torture and murder Bible believers for over 600 years. In her present-day laws she states her right to coerce Christian people. Thus, Canon 1311 states,

“The [Catholic] Church has an innate and proper right to coerce offending members of the Christian faithful by means of papal sanctions.”

While there are no sanctions in torture and death at the present time, the same astonishing mindset is Roman Catholic law. The fact is that the Papacy still claims the right to judge and impose chastening that has not changed since the days of the Inquisition. In present-day Canon Law she also decrees,

Canon 1405 (Sect.1) “It is the right of the Roman Pontiff himself alone to judge in cases mentioned in can. 1401:1. Those who hold the highest civil office in a state...

Canon 1401 “By proper and exclusive right the Church adjudicates: 1. cases concerning spiritual matters or connected with the spiritual; 2. the violation of ecclesiastical laws and all those cases in which there is a question of sin in respect to the determination of culpability and the imposition of ecclesiastical penalties.”

The Holy Spirit’s admonition to believers is to be remembered as these decrees are certified into law, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”[2]

In past times, kings, princes, and nations were supposed to tremble at her decrees. Woe to him who resisted! Subjects were released from their oaths of allegiance; whole states were placed under interdict. By deception regarding the Gospel and, subsequently by force, the Papacy has held her domain together. She has only external unity, as any one who has lived within her system and studied her decrees and history knows.

Our Prayer for Croatia

We have documented on how the institutionalized Papacy and the powers of darkness have conspired against Serbs, Jews, and others in Croatia. It is horrendous! Our prayer now is that the Lord Jesus Christ would show the power of His kingdom in Croatia. Psalms 2 reminds us that the Lord Jesus the Messiah reigns; His throne is not moved, whatever may be the turmoil and schemes against Him. While the enemies of the Gospel are plotting and planning how to break His bands asunder and cast His cords from them, He has already defeated their devices, and He says to them, “yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”[3] All events are in His hands. None can stand against the almighty Lord Jesus Christ!

The voice of the Lord thunders from the final chapters of the Bible and reverberates throughout the world, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”[4] While the Papacy from the city of Rome continues to wax strong, her final condemnation is already written, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”[5] God’s reserved wrath, His punishing justice, and His enmity to sin, will be revealed to the entire world. The destruction of Papal Rome will proceed from the glory of His power. “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.”[6] The certainty of the final triumph should animate us in our efforts, and embolden true believers in their struggles.

The frequently quoted maxim that “peoples ignorant of history are destined to repeat it” is still true. True believers are in real danger of compromising with the Church of Rome. Without the knowledge of the horrifying history of Croatia in the 20th Century, we can fail to see that the true Gospel is a matter of life and death. As the Apostle Paul told believers, “All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”[7] The victory of the faith and courage of believers over the severest trials is repeatedly recorded in the pages of history. As the Lord proclaimed, “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.”[8] “Also I say unto you, whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.”[9] We appeal especially to Croatian people—where there is true faith and love of the Lord, there is in the midst of all afflictions a joy unspeakable and full of glory. God is the only Holy Father, the All Holy One. His holiness is the distinguishing factor in all His essential characteristics and attributes. This is the reason why we need to be in right standing before the one and only All-Holy God on the terms He prescribes. The good news is that by His grace you can turn to Him in faith alone for the salvation that He alone gives, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which is based on Christ’s death and resurrection for His people. Believe on Him alone; as the Scripture states, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”[10] ♦

If the Lord has by His grace touched your heart in reading this account of Croatian history, please let us hear from you using the email address: richardmbennett@yahoo.com

As huge numbers of Islamic migrants continue to stream into Europe from the Middle East, there is great concern among Western people. Nonetheless, even with this astonishing background, Pope Francis continues to promote Islam. Instead of warning people against the dangers they face from the onslaught of migrating Muslims from across the world, Francis has left unaddressed Islamic persecution of Middle Eastern and African Christians, and indeed Europeans. In fact, Pope Francis’ outreach to Islam is simply an intensified application of the Roman Catholic Church’s Vatican Council II teaching.

The Roman Church has been consistently encouraging a massive influx of Muslims into Europe, even into the USA. Such immigration is a basic cause for the attacks that have already taken place. For example, there was the massacre in Paris on Friday, November 13, 2015, during which at least 128 people were killed,[1] and for which the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has claimed responsibility.[2] Incidents of Islamic terror, such as the Paris attack or the San Bernardino attack in the USA, are driven by a vile, totalitarian ideology. Islam has its own dynamic, and it is not based on any logical or rational grievances. Its totalitarian, ideological roots are grounded in the Qur’ân. It cannot be doubted that the Pope and his advisors know this.

The current exportation of Islamists to Europe was in planning at least since 2011, as the “Clarion Project,” challenging Islamic extremism stated,

“ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi stated, ‘loud and clear that if ISIS cannot defeat the West by military means, they will overrun it with jihadists….The present predicament indicates, without any shadow of doubt, that al-Baghdadi is on the ascent. The Islamic State may have occupied vast tracts of land in Iraq and Syria over the past fifteen months or so, but that victory diminishes into insignificance in comparison to what he is up to now…He [al-Baghdadi] has stretched his hand to grab the crown jewel of humanity: European civilisation. Along with the hundreds of thousands of migrants from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and other parts of the Islamic State caliphate that have landed on European shores are large number of Islamic State jihadis mingled among them -- with more millions on the march, trekking across the continents of Africa and Asia, heading towards Europe. …[there is evidence that] al-Baghdadi had the financial backing of rich Arab States, in particular, Saudi Arabia and Qatar…And while Europe’s leaders talk and talk, their countries are gradually being inundated with migrants and jihadists - exactly as planned by the modern day caliph.’”[3]

Autumn 2015 Events

In Germany, which has 3.0 to 3.5 million Muslims, a Roman Cardinal spoke of Islam’s Qur’ân as a part of the historic heritage of Europe and the Near East.

“The Cardinal was Cardinal and Bishop of Mainz who emphasized before 250 listeners at the event center of the university that the Interreligious dialogue has a long history and started at Vatican II. Then Cardinal Lehmann stated that Quran-Research shows ways to read the Quran as a text of late antiquity. As a result the Quran does all at once not appear strange, but shows the nearness to Christendom and Judaism. The Quran is part of the historic heritage of Europe and the Near East,” says the Cardinal.”[4]

Such is the dreadful compromise carried out in Germany. Never mind the truth that the Qur’ân is not part of “the historic heritage of Europe,” as the Cardinal himself knows. Rather, the Roman Catholic agenda is again to strengthen its influence across the world!

Another tactic, the support for both legal and illegal immigration, has for many years been the policy of the Papacy. Thus, on September 16, 2015, Pope Frances addressed legal and illegal immigrants in Spanish at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall saying,

“The Quakers who founded Philadelphia were inspired by a profound evangelical sense of the dignity of each individual and the ideal of a community united by brotherly love.” This conviction led them to found a colony which would be a haven of religious freedom and tolerance. That sense of fraternal concern for the dignity of all, especially the weak and the vulnerable, became an essential part of the American spirit.”[5]

Consequently, with this Papal mindset, it is becoming apparent that the Pope and Roman Catholicism are promoting the immigration, both legal and illegal, of Islamic people as refugees into Western nations. Thus, it is reported on a Roman Catholic website,

“Syrians have left their homes, and four million have fled their country as a result of the civil war and the rise of ISIS within the borders…While the majority of these refugees have fled to neighboring countries, some have sought asylum in Europe. Pope Francis and the Catholic bishops have called on the U.S. and international governments to support the asylum seekers.”[6]

Another Roman Catholic website reports,

“Pope Francis and the Catholic bishops have called on the U.S. government and the international community to provide support to both Syrian refugees fleeing violence and to countries that have been at the forefront of this humanitarian effort.”[7]

However, five of the wealthiest Muslim countries have taken in no Syrian refugees, arguing that doing so would open them up to the risk of terrorism. Although the oil rich countries have handed over aid money, Britain has donated more than Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar combined.[8] Rather, there is evidence that the ISIS leader al-Baghdadi might have been partially funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, along with three other of the wealthiest Arab nations. Undoubtedly, the Roman Catholic Church is rejecting analytical reasoning so that it can support both sides in the conflict, so that when there is a resolution to conflict, the Roman Church will be on the winning side.

The Roman Church Promotes Islam in Its Schools

The Catholic bishops of England and Wales desire that Muslim prayer rooms be opened in every Roman Catholic school. These bishops also want facilities for Islamic pre-prayer washing rituals in all Roman Catholic schools. Muslims say that Catholic schools would need to install bidets, foot spas, and hoses to facilitate such extensive cleansing rituals. The recommendations have been approved by Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, and the favorite to succeed Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Catholic primate.

One is aghast that any Catholic religious school should offer Islamic students “sacred spaces” of any kind. However, such facilities are allowed in Roman Catholic schools, not only in England and Wales but also in the USA. For example, John Birney, president of “Brother Rice High School” in Bloomfield, Michigan has decided to permit a “non-Christian prayer room within the school to allow Muslims and other non-Christian students.” Birney urged people to ask if the prayer room is “something that compromises our faith and identity, or is it in fact consistent with the respect that we have.”[10]

All of this assistance of Islam by immigration and Roman Catholic schools is happening under Pope Francis’s jurisdiction. What Francis has made abundantly clear is, first, that he has no concern to protect faithful Catholics from the Muslim onslaught, which, if successful, will end up with Catholics and Westerners having to live under Sharia law. Second, as a primary Western religious leader, he is encouraging the Muslim religious leaders to persist in their violent onslaught, primarily on the West, and on Christianity in particular, but also around the world in general. Third, it is clear that he is accommodating Islam for his own purposes of empire building and does so with no compunction to be truthful or Christian in his dealings with them. For example, Pope Francis has stated,

“The sacred writings of Islam have retained some Christian teachings; Jesus and Mary receive profound veneration and it is admirable to see how Muslims both young and old, men and women, make time for daily prayer and faithfully take part in religious services. Many of them also have a deep conviction that their life, in its entirety, is from God and for God. They also acknowledge the need to respond to God with an ethical commitment and with mercy towards those most in need.”[11]

The Pope’s statement is deceitful adulation because it must be reconciled with the Roman Church’s official declaration that “the plan of salvation” includes the Muslims, quotation,

“The [Roman] Church’s relationship with the Muslims. ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.’”[12]

Francis knows perfectly well that the Islamic Allah is not the God of the Bible. Thus, it is that Pope Francis, representing the Roman Church, has accepted Islam and its peoples. The fact that the Roman Church and the Allah of Islam agree on “the plan of salvation” demonstrates to true Bible believers that it is against biblical faith. The biblical commandment not to venerate any strange god has been broken by the Rome Catholic Church in order to credit Islam and its adherents with holding to the faith of Abraham.

Islam Rejects the Trinity, Christ’s Divinity, and His Substitutionary Sacrifice

Because of what is happening, it is necessary for us to study the official teachings of Islam. Christians believe in one God, which, in this one Godhead, there exists three Persons. Islam rejects this Trinitarian concept as blasphemous. The Qur’ân declares,

“Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three; and there is no god but the one God, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve” (Surah 5:73).[13]

The Bible proclaims Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross in place of the believer, “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”[14] Islam passionately rejects the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. Thus, the Qur’ân declares,

“And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure” (Surah 4:157).

The Bible proclaims Christ Jesus as divine, being the brightness of the divine glory, and the express image of God. In the Qur’ân, Christ Jesus is debased to being solely an apostle of Allah. Thus, the Qur’ân states, “O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah…” (Surah 4.171). Christ Jesus declared, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”[15] “I and my Father are one.”[16]“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”[17] A religion that rejects Christ’s divinity cannot be of the truth. It is abhorrent that Pope Francis and his Roman Church, in accepting the teachings of the Qur’ân implicitly, denigrate the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel and the Qur’ân’s Religious Philosophy

In the Bible, the Gospel is as the Apostle John declared, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”[18] “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.”[19] The whole “purpose” of the God of Scripture is clearly seen in the Gospel of John, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”[20] This is totally different from the god of Islam who orders fighting, war, and punishment—by amputation, crucifixion, and murder. The following is just a sample of the primary concept of fighting for Allah that the Qur’ân requires:

“And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers” (Surah 2.191).

“…let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward” (Surah 4.74).

The commandment of the Lord, however, is as different as darkness and light; for He says to those who are truly His own, “Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”[21] While many individual Muslims may deplore atrocities committed in the name of Islam, it cannot be denied that these atrocitiesare encouraged and justified by Islamic teaching. Even the most moderate form of Islam is incompatible with biblical truth.

Pope Francis’ first foreign policy address in March 2013 made Muslim-Catholic relations one of his top priorities. Before an audience of ambassadors from 180 countries, he explained how he wanted to work for peace and bridge building between peoples. Muslims and Catholics, he claimed, needed to intensify their dialogue. Positive shockwaves were sent into Muslim-Catholic circles, and Muslim scholars and religious institutions around the world welcomed Pope Francis’ election.[22] Thus Roman Catholics are in dialogue with the Muslims. Consequently, it is the blind leading the blind as each tries to move forward its own particular agenda. Neither agenda is about finding truth in a fallen world but rather both agendas are centered on building an earthly empire in which they will have absolute control. However, they have not properly considered who the Lord Jesus Christ really is and the fact that the God of the Bible works all things according to the counsel of His own will.[23]

Conclusion

Pope Francis and the Roman Church’s promotion of Islam is an establish fact. Instead of warning people against the onslaught of Muslims across the world, Francis has left unaddressed Islamic persecution of European, Middle Eastern, and African people. Such Roman Catholic extremism is momentous.

The testimony of the Bible and history is that man by his own resources and research cannot adequately understand God. As Scripture states, “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?[24] The depths and riches of His wisdom are past human comprehension.[25] The Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed the means by which a person is to know who God is and how He acts. He said, “sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”[26]

The Lord God’s written word, the Bible, not only contains the truth, it is itself truth. As descendants of Adam, we are sinful creatures, separated from our holy Creator. By ourselves, we have no way to be right with God. From the beginning, God’s word made it clear that even one act of disobedience would produce death. Death means separation. Mankind is spiritually dead, separated from the Source of life—the Lord God. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”[27] The Lord God is all pure and all holy. As sinful human beings, we cannot have a relationship with Him, as He cannot tolerate sin. Thus, a person must die and face God’s righteous judgment. Of ourselves we are helpless sinners because, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”[28]No amount of prayer, fasting, or good deeds can give us a relationship with the Lord God. We behold the answer to our spiritual position in Christ Jesus alone. God’s grace was planned before it was imparted, as the Scripture says, “before the foundation of the world” that we should be “accepted in the beloved.”[29] The purpose and design of God from all eternity was that all gifts should come to sinful man in and through Christ Jesus. Grace in its most proper and authentic sense is definitely free, as the Scripture says, “being justified freely by His grace.”[30] The reign of sin and false religion is overcome by the reign of God’s grace. As Scripture says, “even so might grace reign!”[31] The abundance of grace far surpasses the evils of sin. Once a believing sinner receives Christ Jesus as his only surety before the All-Holy God, he finds himself not only freed from his sins, but also made to “reign in life.”[32] Those who receive the abundant grace given by Christ are not only redeemed from the dominion of death, they live and reign with Him as they are sanctified daily through His word by the Holy Spirit, and by constant fellowship with Him. With Him they shall forever live and reign, world without end. Through Christ Jesus, grace reigns with sovereign freedom, power, and bounty! “Blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.”[33] ♦

Richard Bennett of “Berean Beacon Ministry”

Email address: richardmbennett@yahoo.com

Permission is given to copy this article if it is done in its entirety without any changes.

Permission is also given post this article in its entirety on Internet Websites

“Welcomed with a fanfare of trumpets and a chorus of amens, pope Francis introduced himself to the United States on Wednesday with a bracing message on climate change, immigration and poverty that ranged from the pastoral to the political. On a day that blended the splendor of an ancient church with the frenzy of a modern rock star tour, Francis waded quietly but forcefully into some of the most polarizing issues of American civic life.”[1]

The New York Times reported the frenzy of adulation for Pope Francis during his visit to the United States. It appeared as though no lofty controversy was beyond the insight of his judgment, and no lowly mortal beyond the reach of his mercy. And as if unseen hands were covertly orchestrating them, crowds chanted homage and acclamation for the Roman Pontiff. To all appearance the world wonders after him, in great admiration of his power, policy, and pomp. Yet very few comprehend the truth about the Institution that he directs. Would it not have shown the Pope’s integrity had he addressed the iniquity, which plagues the Roman Church, instead of addressing the U.S. Congress and the American people? Nonetheless, sacerdotal wickedness and doctrinal outrages are blights that even Francis’ affectation cannot charm away.

The Wickedness of the Roman Church That the Pope Needs to Address

What was revealed to the world in 2003 remains true today: “From Canada to Australia, South Africa to Hong Kong, across Europe from Ireland, and to Pope John Paul II’s native Poland, clergy sex abuse cases and the ensuing cover-ups have proven to be a worldwide problem.”[2] “It is not about one man or one country; it is about an institution.”[3] Time and again it has proved itself to be “an institution” of betrayal, abuse, and lies. Cases of sexual misconduct by Catholic clerics continue to come to light as was reported as recently as August 5, 2015,

“Monday’s deadline for filing claims has passed, the bankruptcy case of the Twin Cities archdiocese moves to its next stage. By the deadline, more than 600 claims had been filed, including 407 by alleged victims of clergy sex abuse.[4]

On July 15, 2015, TheNew York Times reported,

“Though sexual misconduct by individual priests has long drawn headlines in Minnesota and around the world, the latest resignations [Archbishop John C. Nienstedt and an auxiliary bishop, Lee A. Piché] come amid a push to punish the church leaders who did not intervene.”[5]

It is well recognized that the Roman Catholic Canon Law imposing priestly celibacy has been the root cause of moral degradation and licentiousness among Catholic priests. These priests corrupt women, boys, and girls, with acts of fornication and sodomy. It is also known and readily admitted by Catholics that it was Pope Gregory VII who first imposed the law banning priests from marrying. Thus, a Catholic website uscatholic.org states,

In 1075 pope Gregory VII issued a decree effectively barring married priests from ministry, a discipline formalized by the First Lateran Council in 1123.[6]

Pope Francis is touted as a pope who breaks with Roman traditions. If he is truly concerned for the countless clergy and laity, casualties of a papal law, which viciously ripped through their lives, then he should hasten to abolish that vile regulation. Rumor has it that he may just do that. But if, after 1500 years of the enforcement of the absurd regulation of his predecessors, were Francis to rescind it, we would suspect that his main reason might be financial rather than concern for the victims of the abuse perpetrated by the Roman priests. News sources such as ‘The Guardian’ report,

“Pope Francis has hailed US bishops for their handling of the sexual abuse crisis that has rocked the Catholic church for decades, saying they had shown ‘courage’ throughout and regained the authority and the trust which was demanded of them…Between 2004 and 2013, US diocese paid $1.7bn in legal settlements, according to a report released last year by the US Conference on Catholic Bishops. In that same period, it also paid $379m in legal fees.”[7]

The Catholic Church is a corporation, and no corporation could long sustain such financial losses. She must maintain her authority and power over the millions of Catholics who look to her, in spite of the record of her lies and corruption; thus, indeed, Pope Francis may rescind the law barring married priests from ministry.

Worse Than Abuse: RC Dogma of Spiritual Life Obtained by Sacraments

Sunday, May 3, 2015, Pope Francis, in the manner of popes who have preceded him, emphasized participation in the sacraments as a way of possessing spiritual life and communion with Christ. He said,

“Jesus is the vine, and through Him ... we are the branches, and through this parable, Jesus wants us to understand the importance of remaining united to him. Grafted by Baptism in Christ, we have freely received from Him the gift of new life; and we are able to remain in vital communion with Christ. We must remain faithful to Baptism, and grow in friendship with the Lord through prayer, listening and docility to His Word, reading the Gospel, participation in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation....”[8]

This has been the unbroken theme of Rome’s doctrine, insisting that physical rituals are the effective means of grace. The Church of Rome asserts that the sacraments are necessary for salvation. The official Church doctrine states:

“The [Roman Catholic] Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament.”[9]

However, in Scripture, before the All Holy God, an individual is saved by God’s grace alone, through the exercise of faith and not the practice of a formula. Scripture is adamant on this subject. For example, Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:7 states that it is in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus that God shows the riches of His grace, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” That He alone saves is the whole meaning of divine grace, it is not through the sacraments of the Roman system.

Some Catholics are Shocked, Dismayed, and Embarrassed by Pope Francis

An example of the embarrassment ofsome Catholics is given on the Connecticut Catholic Corner BlogSpot,

“Christians with guns are distrusting, says pope Francis. The Pope has once more spoken ‘off the cuff’ no, scratch that. He's once again gone ‘off the rails’ Every time the Pope speaks we fight back a small shudder that rips through our spine because we instinctively know something distasteful will follow. Yes, I am 100% fed up with this pope. I’ve had enough. The more this pope speaks the more insane he sounds to me. Who is actually speaking here? The Pope or a demon using him? The nonsense has gone on since he was elected, its been one thing after another with this guy. I just don’t understand him and sadly, I pray to God I never do because his sort of Catholicism is NOT what I fell in love with.” Julie@ Connecticut Catholic Corner.[10]

The Official Vatican News: Pope Francis and the Sin of Abortion

The Vatican news agency has stated the following,

Pope Francis specifically turns his attention to women who have resorted to abortion and “bear the scar of this agonizing and painful decision” saying the forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented. “For this reason” he writes, “I have decided to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it.”[11]

This is in compliance with the Roman Church’s law that Catholic people seek forgiveness by confessing their sins to a priest. The law is seen in the following,

“One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience.”[12]

This system of confession in the ear of a priest is a ritual unknown in Scripture. Nonetheless, Catholics are obliged to confess all sins, no matter how serious! The Catholic Church teaches that she alone possesses the authority and privilege to forgive sins. This is confirmed in the Vatican’s own words,

“There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. ‘There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest.’”[13]

It would be difficult to conjure up words of greater arrogance. Pope Francis states, “I have decided to concede to all priests...discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it….” It is blasphemy for Pope Francis to grant his priests (human creatures) the “discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion.” For a mortal to presume to absolve the sin of others is blasphemy, for that is God’s prerogative alone. The Lord God declares, “I, even I, am he that blots out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”[14] God graciously assures contrite sinners that sins are blotted out forGod’s own name’s sake. The pronoun “I” is repeated to make it emphatic that He alone can forgive sins.By grace, sins are forgiven when people believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

In believing on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, God bestows both the forgiveness of sins, as Scripture stated, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,”[15] and eternal salvation. This is biblical truth,rather than the Catholic dogma of auricular confession to a priest, which is a soul-deceiving lie! The scandals that have resulted from the confessional and other close encounters within the Catholic system have reached such horrendous proportions that the documented evidence overwhelms a person. Nonetheless, Pope Francis stays the course of the traditional Papal dogma of auricular confession as we see his August 2015 decree. Our hearts ought to grieve in anguish, and our desire increase, to give the pure Gospel to Catholics so that they can come to the Lord Himself and know the freedom and joy it is to be His very own. As our Lord Himself proclaimed, “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”[16]

The Lord’s Test of Character

Our Savior gave us the proper test of character. People do not judge a tree by its leaves, bark, or flowers, but by the fruit that it bears. So the Lord Christ Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”[17] Pretensions belong to man-made religion. Conduct is the fruit that reveals the nature of the doctrines that have been taught. Pope Francis and his Roman Church are theologically sick, and their moral theology leads to atrocious corruptions. Therefore, it is necessary to document some of these so that sincere Catholics looking for the truth may be freed from the Papal system, and by grace, may turn to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word of Truth.

While the Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world (108 acres), it is one of the greatest states in political intrigue. In the words of Lord Acton, it is, “the fiend skulking behind the Crucifix.”[18] This is due to the fact she is established as a sovereign state with civil power, wielding much sway in national and international law, particularly in the nations in which she has papal nuncios as ambassadors. At present, the Roman Church has 179 legal agreements with nations across the world. With these civil “concordats,” as they are called, the Roman Church has guarantees that she has the right to define religion and worship for Catholics within those sovereign nations. They also secure for the Vatican the right to define doctrine, establish Catholic education, and negotiate laws regarding property, appointing bishops, and Catholic laws of marriage and annulments. Thus, the Vatican is able to make use of civil governments to implement its own agenda.

The lesson we learn from what we have documented about Pope Francis concerns the very nature of the Papacy and its modus operandi. The “mystery of iniquity” spoken of in Scripture is not the evil lives of atheists, prostitutes, drunkards and the like, but rather the evil of false religion.[19] Christ Jesus has His people, His Church. Christ Jesus is truly the Light of the world; yet in opposition to Him there is one who is “transformed into an angel of light” and has his system and his own false teachers.[20]

We have seen that Pope Francis’ teachings, like that of his Roman Church, are that salvation is accomplished through physical sacraments. Looking to physical things to give spiritual life was historically the first lie of Satan, “…in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”[21]Satan offered the fruit as the efficacious meansof bestowing good upon Eve. She believed in the inherent efficacy of the physical object to open her eyes to the knowledge of good and evil. In the same way, Pope Francis and his Church presents seven physical sacraments as the inherent means of obtaining the grace of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis’ pretense is to present physical symbolic sacraments as the efficacious cause of sanctity and salvation. As we saw, he stated, “Grafted by Baptism in Christ, we have freely received from Him the gift of new life.”[22] Pope Francis as we also saw, stated, “I have decided to concede to all priests...discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it.” This he stated, because he believes the official teaching of the Roman Church is,

“All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance. The confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.”[23]

As we know, this is scripturally a horrendous blasphemy. Nevertheless, honor and veneration are paid to Pope Francis. The world admires his charm, policy, and success. So great is the darkness and degeneracy of the world! Roman Catholics live their lives under Pope Francis’ jurisdiction. Thus, they have a long journey through the sacrifice of the Mass, sacraments, good works, merit, veneration of Mary, and the Saints. Each one is required to partake of the sacraments. They will be dispatched for some duration to the fires of a place by tradition known as“purgatory.”

Time for True Christians to make a stand

It is time for those who really love the Lord and the truth of the Bible to show where they stand. Each believer is commanded by the Lord not only to contend for the faith, but he is also commanded to separate from those who have already compromised and refuse to repent of their disbelief in the truth of God’s own Word. The Lord Jesus Christ’s great commandment to give the Gospel is laid on all those who call themselves Christians. To uphold His Gospel of truth based on His written Word alone is what is set before each one who takes the name of Christian! The Lord Himself warned believers against “other christs.” The Apostle Peter warned of “false teachers,” and the Apostle Paul warned of “wolves” within the flock. It is not simply that apostates existed in former days, but these warnings are for the year 2015 every bit as much as they were in the time of the Apostles, Peter and Paul.

Conclusion

Self-salvation by Mass, sacraments, good works, accumulated merit, veneration of Mary and the Saints, is a wasteland before the All Holy God. It is thousands of light years away from the conviction of the Holy Spirit that comes through the Scriptures. The advantage of God’s written Word is that it is all in black and white, leaving no room to escape. Pope Francis’ Church in contrast tries to control religion, morals, politics, and education. The bottom line in Francis’ Rome is not the convicting power of the Holy Spirit through the written Word; rather, it is Pope Francis himself and his bishops and priests who make pronouncements on moral questions and preach what is to be believed and applied in moral life. In stark contrast, the final word in Scripture is that “He [The Holy Spirit] will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”[24] The Spirit works powerfully and with evident effects. When a person is brought to truly mourn his sin, to groan under the burden of his own corruption, to long for Christ Jesus, and to cry to the Lord God to rescue him from his helpless state, then he knows that the Spirit of the living God has moved him. The Lord God’s intent was centered and terminated in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice; it was both an act of His will, and most profitable for His people. The priceless double empowerment of Christ’s perfect sacrifice is proclaimed by the Holy Spirit, “by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”[25]

Christ Jesus’ sacrifice was vicarious, in that He substituted Himself in the place of believing sinners and thus satisfied the law on their behalf. So authentic was this substitution that His sacrifice for them ruled out all necessity of punishment. In becoming the substitute for His people, Christ Jesus took their legal responsibility. In the wonderful words of Scripture, “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”[26]

God has promised to be a Father to true believers—that they shall be His sons and His daughters. This is the greatest honor possible to man. How ungrateful is it that those to whom this privilege is explained should degrade themselves by attempting to replace Christ Jesus and eternal life with a form of godliness that does not deliver. Christ Jesus has promised that “all that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”[27] Those who come at the call of God are given to Christ, because it is through His blood alone that they can be saved. God, by His Spirit, convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment those who acknowledge their iniquity and their need of salvation. Rather than Pope Francis addressing people in the U.S.A and other nations of the world, it would make sense if he addressed the iniquity of his Roman Church.

What we have documented in this article is with purpose and intent, which the Apostle Paul expressed when he wrote, “the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. ”[28]

Only in the Lord Jesus Christ, i.e., the Son of the living God is found freedom and eternal life! Believe on Him and Him alone “andhave no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”[29] If the Lord has indeed touched your heart by His sovereign grace, please let us hear from you using the email address; richardmbennett@yahoo.comThank you. ♦

The one called the “Holy Father” visited Washington D.C., New York and Philadelphia from September 22-27. There were many outstanding opportunities to witness to the deceived Catholics in each of the three cities.

Who Is Your Holy Father? is a new tract by Richard Bennett and is ready for you to distribute to Catholic family and friends! When the one called "Holy Father" visited the USA in September, there were thousands of tracts distributed in the major cities on the East Coast. You can read Who Is Your Holy Father? starting on the next page. You can obtain the tract by going to the bottom of this page and clicking on “click here.”

Who Is Your Holy Father? was written and designed primarily for use during the many gatherings that took place in all three major cities that Pope Francis visited. It is estimated several million Catholics crowded venues and roadsides, affording Christians many settings for tract evangelism.

During the last few years, Literature Ministries International (LMI) has helped supply tens of thousands of Richard Bennett’s tracts to Australia, Scotland, and London for use during papal visits. But LMI has never had an opportunity in the USA like that had this year.

As a devout Catholic for 48 years, and as a Catholic priest for the last 22 of those years, I remember the influence Catholicism had on my soul. It was second nature to me. So, it is with great sensitivity that I ask you, “Who is your Holy Father?”

Crucial Relationships for Eternal Life

Using the intimate title of “Father” gives true believers (Christians) the deep sense of being personally loved as God’s children. Jesus offered this prayer for all those who genuinely believe in God as their Father: “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” Jesus went on to pray, “Holy Father, keep them in your name.”[1] Knowing “the only true God” and his Son, Jesus Christ, are clearly the necessary relationships for eternal life, according to Jesus.

But the official teaching of the Catholic Church in its Catechism states that Catholics must first believe that, “the Church is the mother of all believers. “‘No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as mother.’”[2] So being a Catholic requires a

relationship with “the Church as mother,” replacing what ought to be their primary relationship with God as Father.

A Warning from Christ

The true nature of this substitution is obvious when a devout Catholic refers to the Pope as “Holy Father.” In fact, the Church says we must submit our mind and will, not to God the heavenly Father alone, but also to the Supreme Pontiff—the Pope—in Rome. The official canon law of the Church states, “By virtue of his office, the Supreme Pontiff, possesses infallibility in teaching when as the supreme pastor and teacher of all the Christian faithful...he proclaims by definitive act that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held.”[3]

Facing similar practices in his day, Christ warned the religious leaders, “You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition…You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.”[4] A person cannot be impartial with two authorities that disagree regarding ultimate truth. You need to decide who is your highest spiritual authority. We need to follow Joshua’s example, when he said, “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”[5]

“Father”— Jesus’ Treasured Term

Jesus treasured the name “Father” so much that He specifically warned His disciples not to use it for religious leaders: “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.”[6] This is the true nature of the message of the Lord concerning God the Father.

Jesus also instructed his disciples to pray to “our Father in heaven.”[7] The Father in heaven is worthy of worship. He alone is holy, and a true believer should reserve the words “Holy Father” for Him alone!

Jesus was often challenged by devout religious leaders of his day who represented their leader, the high priest. Once, when they questioned Jesus’ authority to teach, he responded, “‘I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.’ So they said to him, ‘Where is your father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’”[8]

Like those who revered their high priest, devout Catholics revere their pope. The Church teaches that her pope is also “Holy Father.” (Pope comes from “papa,” a child’s word for “father” in Latin.) Those who recognize someone other than God as their spiritual father are denying the true Holy Father—God.

The Holy Father’s Plan for Mankind

The apostle Paul stated, “There is one God. There is also only one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all.”[9] As Mediator, Christ fulfilled His Holy Father’s purpose when He willingly “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God.”[10]

When Christ cried out “It is finished”[11] on the cross, He used the phrase that meant a debt was completely and legally paid! By His death, He paid the entire penalty demanded for our sins by the All Holy Father, in order for God’s justice to be satisfied. Christ’s sacrifice in our place is the only ransom for lost sinners that God accepts.

As a result, true believers in Christ Jesus are forever forgiven and gifted with eternal life! Christ has taken the full consequences of their sins. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. Christ Jesus is he who died, yes, rather who was raised [back to life], and who is at the right hand of God.”[12]

Salvation is a gift from God the Holy Father to all who come to him through faith in Jesus Christ alone. God the Father has made it possible for sinners to be fully forgiven, to receive the gift of eternal life, and “become children of God”![13] Is God your Holy Father? Based on what the Holy Scripture teaches, He can be. But only through faith in Jesus Christ Who is to be both Lord and Savior of your life.

In less than three weeks, Doug Salser of Literature Ministries International shipped over 8,000 printed copies of the tract, Who Is Your Holy Father? These tracrs went to a group of brothers and sisters called “TEAM” in New York City, several pastors and churches in the New York City and Philadelphia areas, as well as many individuals. Three thousand copies of the tract also went to other areas of the country where believers used them to take advantage of the massive media coverage. Only the Lord knows the results of the thousands of gospel seeds planted in hearts during those days. We are praying that many Catholics will come to know God as their true Holy Father, and that the tracts and testimony of the believers who handed them out will be an important part of their eventual salvation. As the Lord distinctly states, “ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”[14]

When you study the facts documented in the article below, you will understand that it is imperative that you disapprove of Pope Francis and the Roman Church. No matter how cleverly Romanism is presented, to accept the Church of Rome as a genuine Christian church is mortally dangerous. In history, there are many examples of how perilous it is. For example, in Ireland in 1172, the acceptance of the Roman Church by Christian Pastors across the nation finally meant, for most people, the end of true Christian faith on that island. Thus it was that Roman Catholicism was imposed on Christian Pastors in 1172 by Pope Alexander III with the military might of King Henry II of England. The Pastors and people accepted the Church of Rome, rather than die. How different things could have been if the Pastors and people sacrificed their lives for the Gospel of grace.

In a similar way, in the 1560s, the Jesuits arrived in Poland. They created a network of schools and colleges across Poland, and they managed in a very clever way to present Romanism as the true Church. Thus it was that the Pastors, leaders, and people acclaimed the Roman Church, and what the Reformation had achieved was sadly lost for the most part. Also from 1600 to 1610 the Jesuits also were in the forefront of the Counter-Reformation in Hungary. They were successful in reconverting two-thirds of the population back to Catholicism, when the country was in its golden age of biblical faith.

Now with another clever Jesuit leading the field; i.e., Pope Francis, Romanism is foisted on the nations of the world. It is time for you and all true Christians to take a stand against the encroachment of this apostate Church.

Please forward this article, and have it posted on Internet Websites. Pray that Christ Jesus the Lord will show Himself as the Head of His Church. He it is that rules His Church according to His written Word of truth and the Gospel of grace.

Yours in the Lord’s truth and grace,

Richard Bennett

Refuting Pope Francis and the Roman Church

By Richard Bennett

The New York Times reported the frenzy of adulation for Pope Francis during his September 2015 visit to the United States,

“Welcomed with a fanfare of trumpets and a chorus of amens, Pope Francis introduced himself to the United States on Wednesday with a bracing message on climate change, immigration and poverty that ranged from the pastoral to the political. On a day that blended the splendor of an ancient church with the frenzy of a modern rock star tour, Francis waded quietly but forcefully into some of the most polarizing issues of American civic life.”[1]

It appeared as though no lofty controversy was beyond the insight of his judgment, and no lowly mortal beyond the reach of his mercy. And as if unseen hands were covertly orchestrating them, crowds chanted homage and acclamation for the Roman Pontiff. To all appearance the world wonders after him, in great admiration of his power, policy, and pomp. Yet very few comprehend the truth about the institution that he directs. Very few also have bothered to analyze biblically what Pope Francis actually said. An example of this is what the Pope said at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. On September 24, 2015, Francis offered prayers for the hundreds of Muslim pilgrims killed during Islam’s Hajj; saying,

“I would like to express two sentiments for my Muslim brothers and sisters…My sentiments of closeness in the face of tragedy. Tragedy that they suffered in Mecca…In this moment I give assurances of my prayers. I unite myself with you all. A prayer to all mighty God all merciful.”[2]

This sentiment is consistent with the official teaching of the Vatican. In the measure that Rome has distanced herself from the Lord of Salvation, so has she moved into solidarity with Islam, and confesses that they both worship the same god.

“‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.’”[3]

Pope Francis’ expression of a union of faith in the “Allah” of Islam is an abomination before the One and only True God, as He commands, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God,[4] and “I am the Lord that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.”[5] Thus, sacerdotal wickedness and doctrinal outrages are blights that even Francis’ affectation cannot charm away.

The Wickedness of the Roman Church That Needs to Be Analyzed

What was revealed to the world in 2003 remains true today: “From Canada to Australia, South Africa to Hong Kong, across Europe from Ireland, and to Pope John Paul II’s native Poland, clergy sex abuse cases and the ensuing cover-ups have proven to be a worldwide problem.”[6] “It is not about one man or one country; it is about an institution.”[7] Time and again it has proved itself to be “an institution” of betrayal, abuse, and lies. Cases of sexual misconduct by Catholic clerics continue to come to light as was reported as recently as August 5, 2015,

“Monday’s deadline for filing claims has passed, the bankruptcy case of the Twin Cities archdiocese moves to its next stage. By the deadline, more than 600 claims had been filed, including 407 by alleged victims of clergy sex abuse.[8]

On July 15, 2015, TheNew York Times reported,

“Though sexual misconduct by individual priests has long drawn headlines in Minnesota and around the world, the latest resignations [Archbishop John C. Nienstedt and an auxiliary bishop, Lee A. Piché] come amid a push to punish the church leaders who did not intervene.”[9]

It is well recognized that the Roman Catholic Canon Law imposing priestly celibacy has been the root cause of moral degradation and licentiousness among Catholic priests. These men are but human beings with human passions. To force celibacy upon them is an abomination because it goes against the will of God that men and women are to marry and bear children. Hence the predictable outcome: it drives these men to illicit acts. These priests corrupt women, boys, and girls, with acts of fornication and sodomy. It is also known and readily admitted by Catholics that it was Pope Gregory VII who first imposed the law banning priests from marrying. Thus, a Catholic website www.uscatholic.org states, “In 1075 Pope Gregory VII issued a decree effectively barring married priests from ministry, a discipline formalized by the First Lateran Council in 1123.”[10]

Pope Francis is touted as a pope who breaks with Roman traditions. If he is truly concerned for the countless clergy and laity, casualties of a papal law, which viciously ripped through their lives, then he should hasten to abolish that vile regulation. Rumor has it that he may just do that. But if, after 940 years of the enforcement of the absurd regulation of his predecessors, were Francis to rescind it, we would suspect that his main reason might be financial weight of legal costs rather than concern for the victims of the abuse perpetrated by the Roman priests. News sources such as The Guardian report,

“Pope Francis has hailed US bishops for their handling of the sexual abuse crisis that has rocked the Catholic church for decades, saying they had shown ‘courage’ throughout and regained the authority and the trust which was demanded of them…Between 2004 and 2013, US diocese paid $1.7bn in legal settlements, according to a report released last year by the US Conference on Catholic Bishops. In that same period, it also paid $379m in legal fees.”[11]

The Catholic Church is a corporation, and no corporation could long sustain such financial losses. She must maintain her authority and power over the millions of Catholics who look to her, in spite of the record of her lies and corruption; thus, indeed, Pope Francis may rescind the law barring married priests from ministry.

Worse than Abuse: RC Dogma of Spiritual Life Obtained by Sacraments

Sunday, May 3, 2015, Pope Francis, in the manner of popes who have preceded him, emphasized participation in the sacraments as a way of possessing spiritual life and communion with Christ. He said,

“Jesus is the vine, and through Him ... we are the branches, and through this parable, Jesus wants us to understand the importance of remaining united to him. Grafted by Baptism in Christ, we have freely received from Him the gift of new life; and we are able to remain in vital communion with Christ. We must remain faithful to Baptism, and grow in friendship with the Lord through prayer, listening and docility to His Word, reading the Gospel, participation in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation.”[12]

This has been the unbroken theme of Papal Rome’s doctrine, insisting that physical rituals are the effective means of grace. The Church of Rome asserts that the sacraments are necessary for salvation, and that they impart sanctifying grace automatically.”[13] Thus the official Church doctrine states:

“The [Roman Catholic] Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament.”[14]

However, in Scripture, before the All Holy God, an individual is saved by God’s grace alone, through the exercise of faith and not from the practice of rituals. Scripture is adamant on this subject. For example, Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:7 states that it is in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus that God shows the riches of His grace, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” That He alone saves is the whole meaning of divine grace, it is not through the sacraments of the Roman system.

The Official Vatican News: Pope Francis and the Sin of Abortion

The Vatican news agency has stated the following,

Pope Francis specifically turns his attention to women who have resorted to abortion and ‘bear the scar of this agonizing and painful decision’ saying the forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented. ‘For this reason’ he writes, ‘I have decided to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it. ’”[15]

This is in compliance with the Roman Church’s law that Catholic people seek forgiveness by confessing their sins to a priest. Their law is seen in the following, “One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience.”[16]

This system of confession in the ear of a priest is a ritual unknown in Scripture. Nonetheless, Catholics are obliged to confess all sins, no matter how serious! The Catholic Church teaches that she alone possesses the authority and privilege to forgive sins. This is confirmed in the Vatican’s own words, “There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. ‘There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest.’”[17] It would be difficult to conjure up words of greater arrogance. Pope Francis states, “I have decided to concede to all priests...discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it.” It is blasphemy for Pope Francis to grant his priests (human creatures) the “discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion.” For a mortal to presume to absolve the sin of others is blasphemy, for that is God’s prerogative alone. The Lord God declares, “I, even I, am he that blots out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”[18] God graciously assures contrite sinners that sins are blotted out forGod’s own name’s sake. The pronoun “I” is repeated to make it emphatic that He alone can forgive sins.By grace, sins are forgiven when people believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

In believing on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, God bestows both the forgiveness of sins, as Scripture states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,”[19] and eternal salvation. This is biblical truth,rather than the Catholic dogma of auricular confession to a priest, which is a soul-deceiving lie! The scandals that have resulted from the confessional and other close encounters within the Catholic system have reached such horrendous proportions that the documented evidence overwhelms a person. Nonetheless, Pope Francis stays the course of the traditional Papal dogma of auricular confession as we see his August 2015 decree. Our hearts ought to grieve in anguish, and our desire increase, to give the pure Gospel to Catholics so that they can come to the Lord Himself and know the freedom and joy it is to be His very own. As our Lord Himself proclaimed, “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”[20]

The Lord’s Test of Character

Our Savior gave us the proper test of character, saying, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”[21] Pope Francis and his Roman Church are theologically heretical, thus their moral theology leads to grievous corruptions. While the Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world (108 acres), it is one of the greatest states in political intrigue. In the words of Lord Acton, it is, “the fiend skulking behind the Crucifix.”[22]

The lesson we learn from what we have documented about Pope Francis concerns the very nature of the Papacy and its modus operandi. The “mystery of iniquity” spoken of in Scripture is not the evil lives of atheists, prostitutes, drunkards and the like, but rather it is the evil of false religion.[23] Christ Jesus has His people, His Church. Christ Jesus is truly the Light of the world; yet in opposition to Him there is one who is “transformed into an angel of light” and has his system and his own false teachers.[24]

We have seen that Pope Francis’ teachings, like that of his Roman Church, are that salvation is accomplished through physical sacraments. Looking to physical things to give spiritual life was historically the first lie of Satan, “…in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”[25]Satan offered the fruit as the efficacious meansof bestowing good upon Eve. She believed in the inherent usefulness of the physical object to open her eyes to the knowledge of good and evil. In the same way, Pope Francis and his Church present seven physical sacraments as the inherent means of obtaining the grace of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis’ pretense is to present physical symbolic sacraments as the efficacious cause of sanctity and salvation. As we saw, he stated, “Grafted by Baptism in Christ, we have freely received from Him the gift of new life.”[26] Pope Francis as we also saw, stated, “I have decided to concede to all priests...discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it.” This he stated, precisely because he believes the official teaching of the Roman Church,

“All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance. The confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.”[27]

As we know, this is scripturally a horrendous blasphemy.

Nevertheless, honor and veneration are paid to Pope Francis. The world admires his charm, policy, and success. So great is the darkness and degeneracy of the world! Roman Catholics live their lives under Pope Francis’ jurisdiction. Thus, they have a long journey through the sacrifice of the Mass, sacraments, good works, merit, veneration of Mary, and the Saints. Each one is required to partake of the sacraments. Even for all this, yet they will be dispatched for some duration to the fires of a place by tradition known as “purgatory.”

Time for True Christians to make a stand

It is a time to be serious. For those of us who really love the Lord and the truth of the Bible, it is time to show where we stand. Each of us is commanded by the Lord not only to contend for the faith, but we are also commanded to separate from those who have already compromised and refuse to repent of their disbelief in the truth of God’s own Word. The Lord Jesus Christ’s great commandment to give the Gospel is laid on all we who call ourselves Christians. To uphold His Gospel of truth based on His written Word alone is what is set before each of us who takes the name of Christian! The Lord Himself warned us against “other christs.” The Apostle Peter warned of “false teachers,” and the Apostle Paul warned of “wolves” within the flock. It is not simply that apostates existed in former days, but these warnings are for the year 2015 every bit as much as they were in the time of the Apostles, Peter and Paul.

Conclusion

Self-salvation by Mass, sacraments, good works, accumulated merit, veneration of Mary and the Saints, is a wasteland before the All Holy God. It is thousands of light years away from the conviction of the Holy Spirit that comes through the Scriptures. The advantage of God’s written Word is that it is all in black and white, leaving no room to escape. Pope Francis’ Church in contrast tries to control religion, morals, politics, and education. The bottom line in Francis’ Rome is not the convicting power of the Holy Spirit through the written Word; rather, it is Pope Francis himself and his bishops and priests who make pronouncements on moral questions and preach what is to be believed and applied in moral life. In stark contrast, the final word in Scripture is that “He [The Holy Spirit] will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”[28] The Spirit works powerfully and with evident effects. When we are brought to truly mourn our sin, to groan under the burden of our own corruption, to long for Christ Jesus, and to cry to the Lord God to rescue us from our helpless state, then we know that the Spirit of the living God has moved us. The Lord God’s intent was centered and terminated in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice; it was both an act of His will, and most profitable for His people. The priceless double empowerment of Christ’s perfect sacrifice is proclaimed by the Holy Spirit, “by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”[29]

Christ Jesus’ sacrifice was vicarious, in that He substituted Himself in the place of believing sinners and thus satisfied the law on their behalf. So complete was this substitution that His sacrifice alone ruled out all necessity of punishment for them. In becoming the substitute for His people, Christ Jesus took their legal responsibility. In the wonderful words of Scripture, “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”[30]

The Lord God has promised to be a Father to true believers that they shall be His sons and His daughters. This is the greatest honor possible to man. How ungrateful is it that those to whom this privilege is explained should degrade themselves by attempting to replace Christ Jesus and eternal life with a form of godliness that does not deliver. The Lord Christ Jesus has promised that, “all that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”[31] Those who come at the call of God are given to Christ, because it is through His blood alone that they can be saved. God, by His Spirit, convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment those who acknowledge their iniquity and their need of salvation. Rather than Pope Francis addressing people in the U.S.A and other nations of the world, it would make sense if he addressed the iniquity of his Roman Church.

What we have documented in this article is with purpose and intent, which the Apostle Paul expressed when he wrote, “the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. ”[32]

Only in the Lord Jesus Christ, i.e., the Son of the living God is found freedom and eternal life! Believe on Him and Him alone “andhave no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”[33] If the Lord has indeed touched your heart by His sovereign grace, please let us hear from you using the email address; richardmbennett@yahoo.com. Thank you ♦

Richard Bennett of “Berean Beacon”

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